Something comfort food-ish, like chickpea cutlets with gravy (see Veganomicon cookbook recipe) or BBQ jackfruit (http://chowvegan.com/2008/05/28/bbq-pulled-jackfruit-sandwich/).
If you want something lighter to balance it out, maybe try a raw veggie slaw, with julienned raw sweet potato (its so delicious), beets, jicama and shredded cabbage tossed in a sesame ginger vinaigrette.
I'd go with something that's texturally different than mac and cheese. Steamed broccoli, green peas or bright blanched green beans sauteed with slices of cherry tomatoes, garlic, rosemary, olive oil and topped with bread crumbs. Along with salad.
I'd do a butternut or acorn squash, maybe glazed, and some cauliflower on the side (it's my fave with mac and cheese. Just make sure your cheese in the mac is strong enough to stand up to whatever you're putting on the squash.
I'd run with an eggplant or portobello mushroom "other dish" since we always have ours with meatloaf. Maybe there's a veggieloaf recipe out there. Maybe we should craft an eggplant/mushroom/squash loaf. I think I will toy with that!
I tend to think of mac & cheese as the main dish. My favorite accompaniment is broccolini with grape tomatoes. Split the broccolini spears, blanch them for 4 minutes in boiling, salted water, move them to a bowl of ice water. Mince a couple of cloves of garlic. Heat some olive oil in the same pan you used for blanching. Add the broccolini to the pan, then a handful or 2 of grape tomatoes, then the garlic. Saute until broccolini and tomatoes are heated through and garlic is fragrant. Season with s & p and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Gosh, I think this is what I'm having for dinner. Along with mac & cheese.
I'd make the mac and cheese the main dish, and serve something lighter with it as sides. A nice green salad and some roasted veggies or something with legumes. Here are a couple of ideas: http://www.food52.com/recipes/9392_pan_fried_garbanzos
http://www.food52.com/recipes/7374_caramelized_butternut_squash_wedges_with_a_sage_hazelnut_pesto
http://www.food52.com/recipes/7015_roasted_cauliflower_with_gremolata_bread_crumbs
7 Comments
Jean | Delightful Repast | http://delightfulrepast.com
If you want something lighter to balance it out, maybe try a raw veggie slaw, with julienned raw sweet potato (its so delicious), beets, jicama and shredded cabbage tossed in a sesame ginger vinaigrette.
http://www.food52.com/recipes/7374_caramelized_butternut_squash_wedges_with_a_sage_hazelnut_pesto
http://www.food52.com/recipes/7015_roasted_cauliflower_with_gremolata_bread_crumbs